For nearly a week, extreme heat has turned the weather charts red across the eastern and western United States. On the Fourth of July, nearly half of Americans were under extreme heat warnings. The trend continued over the holiday and into the following week, with temperature records being broken in cities across the country.
Wednesday, approx. 140 million AmericansHeat watches, watches and warnings remain in effect from the National Weather Service across the region, which covers more than a third of the country. A heat danger map released by the federal agency shows color-coded bands of severity along each coast with the hottest temperatures. On the West Coast, states from Washington to Arizona are in extreme danger, marked by a deep magenta hue. On the East Coast, states from Maine to Florida are in moderate danger, marked by patches of crimson.
“We’re not seeing any relief yet,” said Zach Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. In fact, the heat on both coasts could continue into mid- to late July. “This is a very dangerous and serious situation, and people should not take this lightly.”
On Sunday, temperatures in Las Vegas topped 120 degrees Fahrenheit, beating the previous record set in 2017 by four degrees. On Tuesday, roads in Washington, D.C., cracked as the city reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and daytime records were set in Seattle and across the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fever and Health Tracker The worst-hit areas have seen an increase in emergency room visits due to heatstroke. 645 lives In Maricopa County, Arizona, where Phoenix is ​​located, temperatures are hovering around 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Month.
These dangerous conditions are a continuation of climate trends following more than a year of record-breaking temperatures. Around the world, over the past 13 months, Hottest in historyand in the past 12 months. 1.5 degrees One degree Celsius warmer than pre-industrial temperatures: an ominous milestone for the climate.
These heat waves are especially notable for their intensity and length, and are linked to man-made global warming, Taylor said. Research has shown that climate change is creating more intense heat waves, Stay longer and move slower.
The scorching temperatures Fueling wildfiresThe combination of heat, low humidity, and strong winds can cause small fires to quickly escalate into large ones. National Joint Fire Center According to the tracker, 76 large fires are burning across the country, most of them in states under heat advisories. In Santa Barbara County, California, the Lake Fire has grown to 28,000 acres, making it the state’s largest blaze this year. In southern and central Oregon, officials are Issuance of evacuation advisory Due to multiple wildfires.
Cities are especially at risk due to the urban heat island effect, where buildings and roads trap and amplify heat. In Phoenix, asphalt melts when temperatures exceed 100 degrees. 160 degree F griddleAnyone who comes into contact with it can suffer fatal burns. Rising temperatures can also increase the likelihood of chemical reactions in urban areas, which can lead to ground-level ozone pollution and cause asthma and respiratory illnesses. New York An air quality advisory was issued after harmful levels of the pollutant were detected.
The health threats don’t disappear with the sun. In addition to record daytime temperatures, stagnant air can lead to higher temperatures at night, Taylor said. “This can have equal or even greater impacts on health and heatstroke because your body isn’t given a chance to cool down and recover at night.”
“Heat is a cumulative problem,” says Claudia Brown, a health scientist at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. “Heatstroke doesn’t necessarily result from one hot day, but from successive hot days.” Studies show that the risk of death increases with Compound With the scorching heat every day Nighttime temperature rise It makes it even worse.
And not everyone is equally at risk: “Older people and young children tend to be more at risk because they’re not as good at regulating their body temperature,” Brown said.
Other factorsOther factors, such as chronic health conditions or working outdoors, can also exacerbate the chance and severity of heatstroke. Because risk varies by area, Brown recommends that people under a heatstroke watch use the CDC’s online risk levels to check the risk level for their specific zip code. HeatRiskTools.
As temperatures are expected to drop over the next few weeks, many local governments, e.g. Maricopa Arizona counties and Multnomah Oregon counties are Cooling Center For those without shelter or access to air conditioning, the National Park Service is also offering hikers access to heat-stricken landmarks during the busy summer season. Death Valley And that Grand Canyonreconsider your plans.
